Zrinjski Vs Crystal Palace: Ismaïla Sarr strike canceled out as Palace held to 1-1 in first leg
The first-leg tie between Zrinjski Mostar and Crystal Palace finished 1-1 in a night that underlined the Premier League side's recent struggles. Zrinjski Vs Crystal Palace produced a match where Palace controlled possession but failed to turn dominance into a decisive advantage, leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of the second leg at Selhurst Park on 26 February (20: 00 GMT).
Zrinjski Vs Crystal Palace: Match summary and key statistics
Crystal Palace enjoyed more than 70% possession and looked likely to claim a comfortable lead, but the scoreboard reflected a much closer contest. Ismaïla Sarr put Palace ahead two minutes before half-time after a lay-off from Jørgen Strand Larsen, taking his tally to three goals in this season's competition. Ten minutes into the second half Karlo Abramovic punished a sloppy pass from Adam Wharton to drill home the equaliser for Zrinjski.
- Final score: Zrinjski Mostar 1-1 Crystal Palace
- Palace possession advantage: more than 70%
- Sarr's goal: 43rd minute; marked his third in this competition
- Abramovic equaliser: 55th minute following a midfield turnover
Turning points: missed chances, VAR check and defensive lapses
Palace created several early opportunities and had a goal ruled out in the first half when a cross originating from an offside position led to Ismaïla Sarr finishing from close range. The visitors came closest again late on when Adam Wharton rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort, a near-miss that might have settled the tie in Palace's favour.
The match also featured a tense moment for Palace in the closing stages when Zrinjski players appealed for a penalty for an alleged handball involving a Palace defender. The incident was reviewed by VAR and the referee ultimately decided against awarding a spot-kick, allowing the Premier League side to avoid a late defeat.
What this result means for the second leg
The draw leaves the tie balanced heading to Selhurst Park for the return. Palace arrive with clear attacking pieces named in the starting lineup, including Adam Wharton, Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen, but the first leg reinforced recurring issues: dominance in possession has not translated consistently into wins—the club have managed only one victory in their last 15 matches across all competitions.
Zrinjski will take confidence from exploiting Palace's mid‑game lapse and from the knowledge that they created genuine threats, including a near chance missed by Mario Cuze and other dangerous moments that tested the visitors' goalkeeper. The hosts punished a turnover to make the most of their opportunity and will aim to replicate that efficiency in the second leg.
Looking ahead: decisive factors for Selhurst Park
Going into the second leg both sides will focus on different priorities. Palace must convert possession into clear chances and tighten transitional moments that allowed Zrinjski to counter. Players who featured prominently in the first leg—Ismaïla Sarr and Jørgen Strand Larsen for Palace, and Karlo Abramovic for Zrinjski—are likely to be influential again if they can reproduce their moments of quality.
With the tie level and a return fixture scheduled at Selhurst Park on 26 February (20: 00 GMT), the upcoming match will determine which side advances. Recent form and the ability to avoid individual errors will be decisive over the two legs; this first encounter provided plenty of warning signs for both teams and set the stage for a tense return at Palace's ground.
